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Here's why there aren't better treatments for your allergies

I have terrible, awful, allergies to a whole bunch of things, from dust mites to apples to chlorine. And my list is only dwarfed by the number treatments I've tried over the years. I load up on over-the-counter antihistamines like Zyrtec and Claritin and get shots once a week, but it's still not enough.

I'm far from alone — one in five Americans has some type of allergy. And there's still really no definitive way to stop them completely in most people.

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Featured

 Food allergies could soon become a thing of the past – here's why

Allergic reactions to foods are a growing, potentially life-threatening problem. The good news is we can turn this around...

 How to Treat an Allergic Reaction to Pretty Much Anything

Get the relief you need, whether your symptoms are simple or severe.

Articles of Interest

The Allergy Buster

Desensitization is a straightforward idea; it’s the same principle, according to legend, that King Mithridates VI used to cultivate immunity to poison (an occupational hazard of royalty in the ancient world). The therapy has been used successfully for environmental allergies for decades, by giving patients small injections of pollen or cat dander or other allergens, but it was considered too dangerous to try with food allergies until recently.

A New Treatment Can Relieve Food Allergies, But Few Doctors Offer It

Block joins a small but growing number of providers around the U.S. who have begun offering the therapy without enrolling patients in trials. Just four board-certified allergists offered oral immunotherapy for food allergies in 2010, but the number surpassed 100 by 2017, according to the website OIT 101, which is run by parents who've had success with oral immunotherapy and maintains a directory of providers.

Allergy Release Technique

A dubious intervention for food allergies follows a typical pattern for such treatments.

Allergy treatments enter a new era — with a focus on stopping reactions before they start

Allergy treatments haven’t advanced much in decades, even as hundreds of millions around the world suffer from wheezing, itches, and rashes — and in severe cases, risk death — from exposure to allergens ranging from eggs to pollen to dog dander. But hope may be on the way. Scientists who study the immune system are beginning to understand the root cause of allergies — and are starting to work on next-generation therapies that could stop allergies in their tracks, rather than simply treating symptoms.

Assessing the value of new food allergy treatments must include quality of life

People with food allergies and their families can experience lifelong issues associated with anxiety over potential allergic reactions and perceived societal stigma. For parents, having to make decisions about a child’s safety every single day, at every meal, and in every new environment can be taxing and burdensome. These obstacles are significant, under-recognized, and undertreated.

Everything you ever wanted to know about allergies (but were too busy avoiding peanuts to ask)

One in five UK adults believes they have a significant food allergy. Most don’t – the best estimates suggest that 1.5-3.8% of adults and 6-8% of children have food hypersensitivity (FHS) which is a food allergy or intolerance. But real food allergies can be severe and life-threatening, so expert diagnosis and advice are essential.

For Children With Peanut Allergies, F.D.A. Experts Recommend a New Treatment

A Food and Drug Administration panel on Friday recommended approval of the first-ever drug to treat life-threatening peanut allergies in children, a condition that confounds and frightens families across the country.

How psychologists can help people coping with life threatening food allergies

Food allergies have a big impact on people’s quality of life. The stress and worry of having a potentially life-threatening reaction can result in the need for some families to seek help from a psychologist.

Is It Really Possible to Cure Your Own Food Allergies?

Emmaeatscarrotss, a TikTok user, is attempting ad-hoc immunotherapy for an audience of thousands. But will her journey work? We asked allergists.

New Peanut Allergy Drug Shows ‘Lifesaving’ Potential

Results from a new study may lead to approval of what could be the first drug that ameliorates potentially deadly reactions in children with severe peanut allergies.

Oral immunotherapy can be a game changer for many with food allergies

The purpose of oral immunotherapy is not so someone can go to a baseball game and inhale a bag full of peanuts. Instead, it provides insurance — a buffer zone — so that in the event of accidental ingestion, the risk that a life-threatening reaction will occur is significantly decreased.

Pollen is getting worse, but you can make things better with these tips from an allergist

Inspired by discoveries related to vaccination, Dr. Leonard Noon and John Freeman prepared doses of pollen extracts for injection in an effort to desensitize patients with allergic rhinitis in the early 1900s. This effective treatment, called allergy immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is still used today.

Resources

7 Weird Ways to Make Allergies More Bearable

During allergy season—or on any pet-filled day of the year—many people rely on medications or allergy shots to provide much-needed relief. But doctors may also recommend alternative remedies or lifestyle tweaks to deal with allergy triggers. “These options aren’t necessarily mainstream medicine, but they’re consistent with the evolution toward precision medicine,” says Dr. Stephen Tilles, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

FARE

Cow’s milk allergy is the most common food allergy in infants and young children. Even though most children eventually outgrow their allergy to milk, milk allergy is also among the most common food allergies in adults. Young children who are allergic to fresh milk but can eat baked milk without reacting may be more likely to outgrow their milk allergy at an earlier age than young children who react to baked milk.

Allergy Guardian

Allergy Guardian is a team of passionate allergy experts dedicated to creating healthier homes. By combining cutting-edge research with supreme comfort, our products give your home a fighting chance in the war against allergens. In addition to allergy products, we also provide free educational materials to physicians and healthcare professionals.